Cong-NCP hangs on to power courtesy MNS

Last updated on: October 22, 2009 17:29 IST

The anti-incumbency factor, rising farmers suicides and price rise notwithstanding, voters in Maharashtra have chosen to give the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance another go at governing the state for a third straight term.

As Sharad Pawar-led NCP has made it clear that it will not stake claim to chief minister's post, the process of government formation is likely to get speeded up, a senior Congress leader said.

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, in race for the top job, said the ruling alliance's performance was due to the dynamic leadership of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the team work by the Congress-NCP combine.

The MNS phenomenon, which led to defeat of Sena-BJP candidates in Mumbai and adjoining regions during the Lok Sabha polls, has resulted in the saffron alliance losing another chance to regain power.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray failed to impress voters in the state about the agenda of the opposition alliance.

Shalinitai Patil, widow of former chief minister Vasantdada Patil lost from Koregaon in western Maharashtra. The former NCP MLA had contested the poll as an independent. TV host Adesh Bandekar of Shiv Sena was defeated by Nitin Sardesai of MNS in Mahim seat.